The BCS’ Social Networking Challenge – How To Best Ignore Millions Of Messages Reading “U SUK”

A week ago, I liked to a Talking Points Memo item regarding former George W. Bush press sectretary Ari Fleischer taking on public relations work for the oft-ridiculed Bowl Championship Series. Today, Rob Warmowski supplies a link to a followup tale that suggests (in Rob’s words), “nobody told Ari Fleischer that social media is like a room full of caffeinated Helen Thomases with no escape door.” From AdAge’s Rich Tomaselli :

On the very first day of taking to Twitter,Source: Can't Stop the Bleeding RSS Feed

Bob Stoops to Notre Dame Rumors Persist

It has been a speculation-filled week in South Bend, as everyone wonders who will succeed Charlie Weis as head coach at Notre Dame. The best [read: funniest] email we received on the subject that encapsulates the rumors:

I heard from a former [redacted] school professor who taught at ND [redacted] that Stoops is going to be named on Monday. He claims that his source is reliable.

Notre Dame visits Stanford tonight in likely what will be the last game for Weis, QB Jimmy Clausen, Source: The Big Lead RSS Feed

Tiger Cancels Cops Again, Releases Statement

TMZ.com reports Tiger Woods has canceled his appointment at 3p ET today with police to discuss his car accident Thursday night.

He released this statement on his official website:

As you all know, I had a single-car accident earlier this week, and sustained some injuries. I have some cuts, bruising and right now I’m pretty sore.

This situation is my fault, and it’s obviously embarrassing to my family and me. I’m human and I’m not perfect. I will certainly makeSource: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

Smorgasboard: Give Thanks for Tebow vs. Bowden

This one will be a bit shorter — I got some familial and non-familial duties to attend to as Friday unfolds. I could use a horrible Thanksgiving pun about this being “the appetizer” to the “main course” that is next Saturday, but I’ll spare ya. There’s a few interesting things going on across the next 48 hours on college gridirons, and goddamn it, that’s what we’re going to discuss. That and a few other things entirely unrelated to college football.

Top Five Games Source: The Big Lead RSS Feed

Photos: Tiger’s Smashed SUV At The Crash Scene

Here are some photos from WFTV in Orlando of Tiger Woods‘ smashed up SUV at the crash scene outside his Isleworth home on Friday:

 

We don’t have every angle of the car in the photos, but the pics do make you wonder why Woods’ wife Elin Nordegren needed to smash out the back window of the SUV with a golf club to allow him to escape the vehicle.

The ORLANDO SENTINEL reports “Woods’ Escalade received $5,000 to $8,000 worth of damage to the front bumper andSource: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

Mets interested in DeRosa

Mark DeRosa is a 34 y/o right handed hitting super utility, despite not having a primary position DeRosa has played 100 games or more in the last seven of eight years.
He has over 300 games at 2B and 3B, 150 games in right field, over 100 games at SS, 50 games in left field and 20 games at 1B.
He is a .275 lifetime hitter with a .343 OBP and a .767 OPS.
I think DeRosa would be a great addition but this year with so many holes and so many teams interested in him, I can't see Source: Mets Fever RSS Feed

Who would you rather: Matsui or Damon

Decisions, decisions, decisions. For the Yankees, with a few key older players hitting free agency, this winter is chock full of them. None of the choices the team will have to make is more fraught with emotion and potential impact than the one that looms regarding Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon.

By many accounts, the Yankees will try to bring back one of their two left-handed bats but not both. Right now, Matsui is the sentimental choice. Rebounding from an injury-plagued 2008, he hadSource: River Avenue Blues RSS Feed

Dexter McCluster: Biggest Cutback Since The UAW

Best individual performance of the day (so far) belongs to Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster, who rushed for 324 yards in a 42-17 win over Tennessee.

(With apologies to our beloved United Auto Workers)

Highlight of his day was this amazing scamper, which featured a sweet sideline-to-sideline cutback that punctuated a 71-yard run.

Video after the jump, courtesy Matt Hinton at Yahoo Sports’ Dr. Saturday. (more…)

Source: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

Firing Weis to be a Costly Decision for Notre Dame

You can say the buzzards are really circling Charlie Weis now, as Notre Dame suffers yet another defeat, a 27-22 loss to Pittsburgh that leaves the Irish at 6-4. So it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion amongst many media circles that Charlie will be saying sayonara to South Bend at season’s end.

Note: There is a poll within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

However, letting Weis go is not just a matter of a simple “Sorry, Charlie,” Source: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

Francoeur will return...

I thought Jeff Francoeur was one of the few bright spots this year for the NY Mets, so it came as a surprise to hear many fans express apprehension about Frenchy's future with the team. At the end of the season there was discussion that the club could offer him an extension beyond his arbitration years. It was then that some fans expressed reservations about signing him long term and a few wanted him non-tendered. Frenchy is a free swinger who will strike out a lot, but at 25 y/o with whatSource: Mets Fever RSS Feed

NFL Power Rankings: Week 9

Peter King has his Fine Fifteen, ESPN has its own composite power rankings, and the legendary Dr. Z’s weekly power rankings were a must-read until he was stricken silent by a stroke last year. So, why can’t TBL get in on the fun? Here’s the ninth installment of the 2009 NFL in-season power rankings, featuring (unless TBL yanks the picture again) former Dawson’s Creek guest star Bianca Kajlich (can’t believe she didn’t adopt a stage name). [Ed. She's also known as LandonSource: The Big Lead RSS Feed

Video: High School Football Bounce Pass For TD

Couple-three weeks ago, I posted a behind the back high school football touchdown pass. Now, howsa ’bout a football bounce pass that goes for a score?

Brad Heap of Mountain View (AZ) High School throws a bounce pass behind the line of scrimmage against Rocky Mountain High School (ID) to receiver Baue Stapley. Stapely then throws a touchdown pass  to D.J. Geroux.

Video after the jump.
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Video: Fedor Knocks Out Rogers In Second Round

Fedor Emelianenko knocked out Brett Rogers tonight in the second round of their MMA fight in Chicago:

AOL’s Michael David Smith:

Rogers connected with Fedor early and made him bleed from the nose, and he more than acquitted himself in the fight, getting control of Fedor on the ground and looking better against Fedor than any opponent has in the last few years.

But there’s only one Fedor, and in the second round, he showed why he’s the greatest ever, leveling Rogers Source: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

Zenyatta Legend Eternal Without Announcer Call?

Hope you’ve gotten to see Zenyatta’s stunning win at the Breeder’s Cup yesterday. Considering all the circumstances before and during the race, the filly’s victory was beyond astonishing. Certainly goes down as one of the greatest performances ever.

(Inset: Santa Anita track announcer Trevor Denman - Photo Credit)

But I’m not so sure track announcer Trevor Denman shouldn’t be credited with a good portion of what will be Zenyatta’s everlasting legend. If you think Source: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

Gigantic Ski Jump Ramp At Soldier Field. You First

At first glance you might think that the image below is a Photoshop, but you’d be wrong, my friend. That’s an actual ski ramp built in — actually over — Soldier Field, with a tiny ski jumper in mid-flight, circa 1954. My thoughts: Chicago, wind, man in mid-air about 150 feet off the ground … what could possibly go wrong?

Here’s the thing under construction (it’s 165 feet at the taking-off point). Sheesh. DEPUTY DOG has a pretty amazing collection of photos of insaneSource: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

Want To Get Away? Gus Johnson Sorry For Gaffe

Gus Johnson had only just gotten over Brandon Stokley’s deflected TD reception against the Bengals when a controversy arose surrounding his interesting choice of words during the Jaguars-Titans game on Sunday. In calling a Chris Johnson touchdown run, Gus said that the Titans running back had “getting-away-from-the-cops speed!” Whoops.

Gus Johnson is very sorry, kind of. And he said so today, in one of the most striking non-apology apologies in the history of anything. In fact,Source: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

Odom To Khloe: You’ll Get NOTHING And Like It

It’s been reported the last 48 hours that Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian have agreed to a pre-nuptial agreement. RadarOnline.com is claiming an “exclusive” in providing these details:

a flat sum of about $500,000 for every year they were married, $25,000 a month in general support, their new house, a new luxury vehicle at the end of every lease cycle, $5,000 a month for shopping, $1,000 for beauty care AND courtside Lakers tickets for everyone in her family

Not too sureSource: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

Go Phils!

With the high likelihood of a Phillies/Yankees World Series it is time to jump on the Phillies bandwagon.  Break out your cheese-steaks and put on your Chase Utley jersey and hope that Pedro can be the Yankees' daddy.

A Yankee World Series title is nothing but bad news.  I was interviewed by The Faster Times on this topic along with some other Red Sox bloggers so head on over there and check out the post.

Source: Fenway West RSS Feed

AEK contemplating a Greek-only roster

The Greek league has not started yet and may not even start when it is supposed to. In AEK they are worried about the restriction from FIBA to sign any foreign players.
According to allstarkourouna.blogspot.com, in AEK they have already devised plan B in case they are not allowed to play with any non-Greek players in the Greek league. The plan B is to release all the players they have signed so far(Taurean Green, Donnie McGrath, Roderick Mels, Lamont Mack, Torin Francis and Riste Source: The Hoop RSS Feed

Big Sofo and Papanikolaou ill with Swine Flu

Earlier today the team of Olympiacos released an announcement via their official website regarding the medical condition of 2 of their players that have been found ill with H1N1.
According to the announcement, Sofoklis Schortsanitis(2.06-C) and Kostas Papanikolaou(2.01-SF) have been tested positive for the H1N1 virus that causes the #Swine Flu#. It says that they were found to be ill upon their return from Cleveland and fortunately their symptoms were only mild. They are currentlySource: The Hoop RSS Feed

Yankees-Angels: Redemption Song

How good has SI Vault been this week? If not you’re following them on twitter, you’re missing out. Today, they posted this undated photo of Mike Vick and one of his dogs. And is this Billy Bob Thornton from Bad Santa (2:00 minute mark - spectacular), or Tommy Lasorda? No clue if that’s Mariano Rivera’s wife planting a kiss on him, or just a randy fan.

Where are Artie Lange’s football picks, you ask? Stern fans know he’s been out sick this week, and we haven’t receivedSource: The Big Lead RSS Feed

2009: The Year of the Comeback

I'm not sure how many more late-inning comebacks I can take. But man, they sure are exciting.
The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for two runs in the eighth inning of Game 2 of the NLCS against the reigning Champion Philadelphia Phillies, coming away with a 2-1 victory Friday night.
After a tremendous start by veteran Pedro Martinez (2 hits over 7 innings) and a solo shot by monster Ryan Howard, the Phils thought they were on their way back home with a 2-0 lead in the series. ButSource: Babes Love Baseball RSS Feed

Say It Isn’t So, But Has Venus Been Eclipsed?

I’m not one to sugarcoat things, so I’ll just go ahead and declare it. Venus Williams, one of the all-time greats on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, is struggling with her game.

It’s as simple as that.

Since her fairytale run to the final of the US Open a decade ago, I have admired the elder Williams sister for her pride, poise and sportsmanship. Her commitment to the world of tennis has been commendable – she’s outlasted many of her peers who have sashayed in and out ofSource: On the Baseline Tennis News RSS Feed

Report: ‘Real Houswives’ Pursuing Vanessa Bryant

We’ve been waiting all these years for Vanessa Bryant to breakout into the public eye, perhaps now she has her chance?

Egypt Sherrod reports this week that “sources are buzzing that Bravo TV producers are trying to add NBA superstar Kobe Bryant’s wife Vanessa Bryant to the cast of The Real Housewives of Orange County.”

(Kobe and Vanessa Bryant’s daughter Natalie - future reality star?)

(more…)

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U.S. National Team Soccer Player In Va. Car Crash

Charlie Davies, a striker on the U.S. National soccer team, was in surgery in stable condition this afternoon after a car crash in Arlington, Virginia this morning. One passenger in the car, a 22-year-old woman, was pronounced dead at the scene. The injuries to Davies, 23, are not life threatening, which is somewhat amazing considering the condition of the car.

As you can see in the photo, the car was sheared in half in the accident, which occurred on George Washington Parkway, with noSource: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

A Most Unfortunate Headline For Red Wings Fans

If you are a Detroit Red Wings fan, this is not funny. If you like any of the other 29 teams in the NHL, this is uproariously funny.

(via PROBABLY BAD NEWS)

Yes, if we’re reading that headline from ESPN.COM correctly, Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg (above), um, “have an announcement to make.” Hell of a breakthrough story, if you ask us.

Of course, if Lidstrom and Zetterberg really are hairstylists for each other, that would be especially shocking newsSource: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

Troy Tulowitzki’s Magnificent Mullet Goes Down

Here’s in Los Angeles, we’re one round away from a Freeway Series, but that doesn’t mean I’m not more than a little melancholy this Monday.

I was really, REALLY looking forward to welcoming back the Kenny-Powered Rockies to The Ravine one more time. To bask in majesty that is Troy Tulowitzi’s mullet, and exalt in the endless, empty rhetoric emanating from the world’s blandest man: Jim Tracy.

Only thing that’ll make Dodgers-Phillies worthwhile: Both clubs breakoutSource: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

Owen Schmitt Gets Psyched By Bashing His Head with His Own Helmet … This is the Result

Owen Schmitt, the wacky fullback of the Seattle Seahawks, pumped himself up during the player introductions by bashing his helmet into his head twice. This is the result. A few stitches were required. Schmitt, you may recall from his days at West Virginia, is notorious for being batty. Video of the bashing after the jump:

Source: The Big Lead RSS Feed

Denard Span’s Loogie, E’s Mustache Steal Show at Stadium

Start your morning off on the right foot and enjoy the magic that is Denard Span’s frozen rope loogie.

Thing is blazing such a striking path, even Silver Surfer would be impressed.

After the jump, E from Entourage becomes the 9,163rd celebrity to jump on the mustache train in the last month.  

Yankees Win: This ridiculous missed call to start the 11th robbed Joe Mauer of a ground-rule double.  As you can see, the umpire was looking right at the ball as it hit wellSource: The Big Lead RSS Feed

Tex powers Yanks to 2-0 series lead after A-Rod saves the day in the 9th

(What’s this?)

Two days after the Yankees and Twins kicked off their Division Series matchup, the clubs finally came together to give Game Two a go. Regular catcher Jorge Posada would ride the bench in favor of backup Jose Molina, who had demonstrated the ability to work well with starter AJ Burnett in recent starts. The Yanks were looking to take a commanding lead in the series while the Twinkies were hoping to keep their playoff heads above water. One team got their wish, but notSource: River Avenue Blues RSS Feed

EPL Talk Podcast: Michael Sheen and The Damned United

Episode 140 of the EPL Talk Podcast features an interview with Michael Sheen, the star of The Damned United, the new motion picture about the life of Brian Clough.

The podcast episode also features a discussion with EPL Talk correspondent Eric Altshule who gives a mini-review of the film. Plus, he describes what it was like meeting and interviewing Sheen.

Listen to the interview now.

This episode is a special one for another reason, too. It marks the first episode of theSource: EPL Talk RSS Feed

The Wit And Wisdom Of Ex-NFLer R. Jay Soward

As stated, this Twitter thing isn’t going to last forever for the wayward athlete-covering media. That’s probably also good thing for someone like football flameout and current Twitter citizen R. Jay Soward.

Soward, who has five kids, is now three years removed from his final season in the CFL. Amazingly, he’s still only 31, but when it comes to pro football, he might as well be 131.

Before we get to more of Soward’s Tweets, here’s a quick reset:

In May, 2006,Source: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

Olympiakos off-loading players

2 more players from the roster of Olympiakos are going to be lent to other teams as they are not being regarded as part of the team that will compete in the upcoming season in the Euroleague and the Greek A1 league.
According to redplanet.gr, Igor Milosevic(1.93-PG/SG) will be sent on a loan agreement to Spartak St. Petersburg.Milosevic began his professional career in 2003 with the greek league club Iraklis. After spending 3 seasons with Iraklis he moved to the serbian leagueSource: The Hoop RSS Feed

The Roundup: Erin Andrews, College FB, Anne Frank

One recommendation for tonight - watch or DVR Anvil: The Story of Anvil on VH1 at 10pm. I haven’t seen it yet, but I’ve got the DVR set and have heard nothing but great things about this movie. H/T on that one goes to Nug.

This is Rachel Stevens. The picture is from her upcoming 2010 calender. If you enjoy what you see here, feel free to check out the other months.

So it’ll probably be mostly me today with possible special guest appearances by Hernia and Mr. B.Source: The Big Lead RSS Feed

A cricket bat at a wedding

You don’t often see cricket bats at weddings. It should happen more often.

This wasn’t a normal wedding though. This was the wedding of Miriam and Jrod of Cricket With Balls.

They were married at The Oval and the groom wore cricket whites.

Send your pictures of cricket bats and other cricket stuff in unusual places to king@kingcricket.co.uk

Source: King Cricket RSS Feed

Stafon Johnson Injury: ‘Lesser Man Would’ve Died’

ESPN has the latest on Stafon Johnson:

USC Trojans tailback Stafon Johnson is awake and communicating via writing and hand signals less than a day after emergency surgery to repair throat injuries from a weightlifting accident, according to a doctor at the hospital where he is being treated.

Dr. Gudata Hinika, the trauma medical director at California Hospital Medical Center, said Johnson is giving thumbs up signs and communicating in writing to his mother and teammates afterSource: SPORTSbyBROOKS RSS Feed

Something Happened to Tim Tebow

According to reports, Tim Tebow has suffered a concussion. According to those same reports, Tim Tebow will live.

Thankfully, this “Tim Tebow Hospital Update 2:30 am” report from stalker Buddy Martin has also confirmed that Bob and Robbie Tebow are inside the hospital that confirmed Tim Tebow has a concussion.

Further, despite all of this, Tim Tebow has declared it’s still great to be a Gator.

Even more interesting, Tim Tebow has announced he will be dedicating the Source: The Big Lead RSS Feed

San Jose Earthquakes unveil new soccer stadium design

EARTHQUAKES UNVEILED STADIUM DESIGN SATURDAY - SJEARTHQUAKES.COM

ARTIST RENDERING OF SAN JOSE STADIUM FIELD VIEW - SJEARTHQUAKES.COM
SJ Earthquakes and Oakland A's owner Lew Wolff unveiled designs for the new San Jose stadium this Saturday at the Soccer Silicon Valley Community Foundation's annual dinner. If financial and sponsorship requirements can be met, the intimate 15,000+ seat venue would be located at Coleman and Newhall just west of the San Jose MinetaSource: Sharkspage RSS Feed

Oldenburg extends Krunic through 2012

Even before making its debut in the Euroleague, the German champions from EWE Baskets Oldenburg have made a preseason move for the future by extending the contract of head coach Predrag Krunic through 2012. Krunic, 41, joined Oldenburg in 2007 and within two seasons he and the team had given the city its first-ever German League crown. Krunic started in Germany as a strength and conditioning coach for Alba Berlin.
source : euroleague.net

Source: The Hoop RSS Feed

Yanks have legit complaints against Marty Foster

During the 2009 season, the Yankees have had three separate incidents with veteran umpire Marty Foster. One incident can be written off in the normal course of baseball. Two incidents (especially when they come on back to back days) raises some eyebrows. But three incidents? That might suggest there’s something to this. After watching the Yankees for years, and trying diligently to keep up with as many other teams as possible, I can’t say I remember anything quite like this between teamSource: River Avenue Blues RSS Feed

Tampa Bay Rays Lose 11th Straight

This time last year, the Tampa Bay Rays were in the middle of a miraculous run that landed on top of the AL West and eventually sent the Rays to the World Series. This year isn’t quite as fun.

On Sunday, the Rays saw their losing streak extend to 11 games when the Boston Red Sox won by a final count of 4-0. The Rays are no only 72-71 and they are already looking forward to next season.

In their latest loss, Jon Lester dominated. The Red Sox starting pitcherSource: Knuckle Curve RSS Feed

Matt Damon: Yanks Will Fold Like a Cheap Suit

Avid Red Sox fan Matt Damon spoke for the rest of Red Sox Nation on SIRIUS XM’s Mad Dog Radio channel today.

Williams: “Meanwhile, your Red Sox, they’re only about 19 games back of the Yankees. Do they have anything for them in October?”
Damon: “Yeah, of course, man. October comes and everybody is 0-0. All we need to do is back into the wild card and we’re fine. We’re fine. Listen, New York, they’re going to collapse. They’re still, I mean, nobody on

Vladimir Micov signed with Baskonia

Caja Laboral deepened its perimeter rotation by signing Vladimir Micov, a swingman who arrives from Panionios. Micov (203, 24) averaged 10.2 points, 3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in six Eurocup games for Panionios, marking the second season in a row that he averaged double figures in points in Europe’s second club competition.
He grew up at Beopetrol Belgrade in his native Serbia and has also played for Nova Pazova, OKK Belgrade, Lavovi 063 Belgrade and Partizan in Serbia as well